10 Mandarin Birthday Phrases For You to Wish Your Friends and Family
Chances are, you’re here because you have a friend or family member whose birhtday is coming up soon, or it’s happening right now, and you want to wish them in Mandarin!
Or maybe you’re just curious about how to wish someone a happy birthday in Mandarin.
Either way, you’re in the right place! In this blog post, we're going to give you 10 Mandarin birthday phrases to wish someone on their brithday.
The Classic: Happy Birthday
The most straightforward way to say happy birthday in Mandarin is:
生日快乐 (Shēngrì kuàilè) — Happy Birthday
This is the phrase everyone knows. You'll hear it in birthday songs, see it on cakes, and read it in messages. It's suitable for everyone, young or old, close friend or acquaintance.
Wishing Someone Good Health
In Chinese culture, health is one of the most valued blessings you can offer someone, especially for older family members. A very common birthday wish is:
身体健康 (Shēntǐ jiànkāng) — Wishing you good health
It can also be paired with Shēngrì kuàilè, the full greeting becomes:
生日快乐，身体健康！(Shēngrì kuàilè, shēntǐ jiànkāng!) "Happy birthday, wishing you good health!"
Wishing Someone Long Life
For elders and grandparents, longevity is a deeply meaningful wish in Chinese tradition. You can say:
长命百岁 (Chǎngmìng bǎisuì) — May you live to be a hundred years old
Or the longer version that’ll make you sound impressive:
福如东海，寿比南山 (Fú rú dōnghǎi, shòu bǐ nánshān)— May your fortune be as vast as the Eastern Sea, and your life as long as the Southern Mountain.
Both are classics for birthday banquets and formal celebrations.
Wishing Happiness and Good Fortune
万事如意 (Wànshì rúyì)— May everything go your way
心想事成 (Xīn xiǎng shì chéng) — May all your wishes come true
幸福美满 (Xìngfú měimǎn) — Wishing you happiness and fulfilment
These phrases are warm and versatile, great for birthday cards, WhatsApp messages, or saying out loud at a celebration.
For a Child's Birthday
When wishing a child happy birthday, people often keep it cheerful and simple:
天天开心！(Tiāntiān kāixīn!) — May you be happy every day
快高长大 (Kuài gāo zhǎng dà) — Grow up tall and strong
These phrases are often said by grandparents and relatives to young children.
Before you use these phrases… add this! (IMPORTANT)
祝你 (zhù nǐ) means "I wish you," and putting it before any of these phrases makes your message sound more personal and sincere.
So instead of just saying 生日快乐 (Shēngrì kuàilè), you say 祝你生日快乐(Zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè) — I wish you a happy birthday."
It's a small addition, but it makes a big difference in how warm your message comes across!
Conclusion
Birthdays don't need a language barrier. A simple 祝你生日快乐 (zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè) from a non-native speaker to someone who speaks Mandarin is meaninful,
Because it shows your effort and caring for that person.
And now you have 10 phrases to choose from depending on who you're wishing and the occasion.
You don't need to be fluent in Mandarin to use these.
Whether you're texting a colleague, writing in a birthday card, or saying it out loud at a celebration, these phrases are easy to pick up and meaningful to receive.
So the next time someone you care about has a birthday coming up, don't just send a generic "HBD". Pick one of these phrases, add your 祝你 (zhù nǐ) in front, and make it count.
And if you’re interested in diving deeper into Mandarin, you can check out our Online Mandarin Class for adults!